maskedsanity wrote:I am Bipolar and pregnant...
Bless you and the baby! So much hope and joy. But also fear and anxiety, lifestyle changes, hormonal changes, new responsibilities... Easy to understand how it can be overwhelming for any couple going through it. Being bipolar adds it's own challenges.
Here's my advice. It is from the heart and based on my experience as a bipolar father of 2 boys who didn't get everything perfect. Nobody does. Glean from it what seems right to you and dismiss anything that doesn't seem to fit.
Get good advice from your Professional Care Team and follow it... Your personal doctor will look after the pregnancy and psychiatrist will look after your mental health. Make sure they are communicating. Take prenatal classes and get into groups with new mothers to be. It will all help you through the pregnancy and becoming a family. Involve your partner where possible in the group stuff. The prenatal classes were very informative and being with other pregnant couples experiencing the same stuff helped me.
Build a support network with friends and family... Everybody loves a baby. They want to help out.
Talk to your partner and psychiatrist about a crisis plan... Who to call, when to call, Special needs... Safety and what is best for you and the baby is the one and only objective. Everybody wants that.
Creating new life and becoming a family is perhaps the greatest experience in life. It is also full of challenges but that is what makes it so special.
Keep us posted. I'd love to be with you through it, even if only on the forum.
It is not always possible to make someone's discomfort go away.
Sometimes, the best thing we can do is resist the urge to fix it and instead just say, "You, too?"